Temperature control of reaction vessels



Dec. 21, 1937. B PRICKETT 2,102,644

TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF REACTION VESSELS' Filed April 1, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

770/224: 5. Pr/rke/Z ATTORNEY.

Dec. 21, 1937. B, -ICKE' T 2,102,544

TEMPERATURE CONTROLOF REACTION VESSELS Filed April 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR. 730 m as ,3 Pn'ake z! EP4 $04M ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 21, 1931' umrgn STATES TEMPERATURE Thomas a. Prlckett, Woodbury, N. 1.,

to Houdry Process Corporation, Dover,

moi. or motion vassans assignor DeL, a

corporation of Delaware Application April 1, m5, sci-m No. 14,068

' Claims. (01. 23-288) This invention relates to converters for eflecting chemical reactions involving the use of con-" tact masses which may promote or in any way assist the reactions. It is concerned with tempera 5 ture control of the mass. More particularly, it involves restriction of heat exchange between certain portions of the converter structure.

One object o! the invention is to restrict heat exchange between the walls of the reaction cham- 10 ber and portions of the converter structure disposed outside the chamber. Another obiect is to restrict heat exchange between the mass and a wall of the reaction chamber. Still another ob- Ject is to restrict heat exchange between fluids 15 about. to enter or fluids leaving the reaction chamher and portions of a system conducting heating or cooling fluids through the chamber. Still an-' other object is to provide eflicient heat baiiling means which do not present the disadvantages of conventional insulating materials. A still further object is to avoid stagnation of fluids. Still other objects will be apparent irom the detailed description which follows.

In certain respects, the present invention may 25 be considered as an improvement on or further development of the invention disclosed and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 1,987,904, issued to Eugene J. Houdryon January 15, 1935, which relates to the use of heat insulating material of 30 cellular or flbrous nature in chemical converters. This type of material is sometimes unsatisfactory especially when it is deteriorated physically and/or chemically through absorption of fluids with which it comes in contact, as for example, fluids a penetrating character or fluids at superatmospheric temperatures and/or pressures and which may or'may not react chemically withthe insulating material. In a converter handling inflammable fluids or fluids which deposit inflammable materials within the structure and on the surface of the insulating material, the latter, when it becomes saturated with these fluids, oiten presents a dangerous flre or explosion hazard. Heat insulating materials of the type described deleterious fluids when they have been shielded or protected from the fluids by a fluid tight cover or the like. However, it is irequently'diilicult to design, install and maintain such covers.

heat baflling means which do not have the disadvantage of insulating material oi thetype de-' havebeen used successfully in-converters handlingv The present invention contemplates eiflcient.

The invention involves one or-more ballle plates in spaced relation with a wall or end of a reaction chamber. One form of the invention provides baflies in parallelism .with a partition or flue sheet extending'across the converter and defining one end of a reaction chamber containing a contact mass and one end of a contiguous fluid reservoir. The bailles 'may be interposed between. the mass and the flue sheet and/or between the flue sheet and portions of the converter structure outside the reaction chamber. In some instances, the baflies are interposed between the mass and-a fluid manifold ina system'serving to conduct. heating or cooling fluids through the reaction chamber. The flue sheet is preferably adapted to permit fluid communication between the reaction chamber and the reservoir. The baflles are preferably adapted to provide passage of fluids about to enter 'or fluids leaving the mass over or through them in a manner to prevent formation of pocketsoi stagnating fluids. when the baiiies are disposed within the fluid reservoir they may be extended to form an inner shell in spaced relation with the converter shell and to provide a conducting path between the two shells for fluids about to enter or fluids leaving the mass.

I Concrete embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which: F18. 1 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation of a converter having a central portion cut away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one end of a modifled converter taken substantially along line Z2 of Fig. 3, but showing some parts in elevation;

' Fig. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but shown on a slightly larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a view, on a reducedscale, shown partially in section and partially in elevation, of a modification oi the converter portion shown in 40 Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a i'ragmentary sectional view 01' a diiierently modified converter shown on a slightly larger scale than, Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 6 is a view, on approximately the same scale as Fig. 5, showing a portion 01! a still diflerently modifled converter. l

In Fig. 1, flue sheets or partitions 6 and I extend across'the converter shell or casing 8 dividing the interior .of the latter into reaction chamber A containing contact mass M and end fluid maniioldlng chambers or reservoirs B and C. Fluid communication between each oi the fluid reservoirs B and C and chamber A is provided in any desired. manner, as tor example, by a series of respectively, into intercommunicating compartments and are supported from flue sheets fi or I by means of suitable spacing members or legs. Baffles II and battles l3 are shown provided with perforations I4 in staggered relationship. This arrangement permits passage of fluids through the battles and over all the bafliing surfaces and provides the effect of a continuous bailiing sur-I face presented to partitions 6 and 1, respectively. Baflles I2, except for the openings necessary for conduits III, although shown imperforate, maybe. perforated or arranged in any suitable manner to' permit sweeping of fluids over their surfaces. Baiiles II and I3 function efficiently in restricting heat exchange between the respective flue sheets 6 and I and portions of the converter struc-- ture disposed outside reaction chamber A, as for example the ends of shell 8, when they are contacted by reaction products leaving mass M or fluid reactants about to enter mass M and which are at substantially the temperature of mass M.

' Battles I2 restrict radiant heat exchange between mass M andflue sheet "I. The converter shown in Figs. 2 and 3 provides means for conductingheating or cooling fluids through chamber A, such as fluid manifold I5 having a plurality of branches I6 in nested relation with fluid outlet conduits l0 extending into chamber A after the manner indicated in certain co-pending applications including Serial No. 728,544 of E. J. Houdry and R. C'. Lassiat, filed June 1, 1934, Serial No. 8262 of E. J.- Houd ry and myself filed February 26, 1935, and Serial No. 12,564 of E. J. Houdry flied March 23, 1935. If

desired, fluid manifolds, such as I5, are provided at each end of the converter and connected by conduits I6. Baille plate ll in spaced relation with and of smaller diameter than flu'e sheet I is interposed between the latter and manifold I5 and provided with perforations I I accommodating the ends of conduits III. Baflle l3 thus di- .vides reservoir G into intercommunicating fluid compartments respectively removed from and adjacent to partition I. Fluid reaction products are discharged or vented from chamber A through ports I8 (Fig. 2) 'in conduits I0 directly into the space or compartment provided between flue sheet I and baflle I 3 and are directed by the latter toward the periphery of reservoir C before being admitted to the main portion of the lat- I9 are shown extending through a portion of a flue sheet, indicated at I, and baiile plates I3. In this arrangement a portion only of the fluids handled by conduits ID are discharged into or picked up from the intercommunicating compartments provided by battles I3 through perforations I8. It is to be understood that bailies l3 and ports I8 may be disposed on either or both sides of flue sheet I, and that the latter may be 5 approximately fluid-tight or not, as desired, de-

pending for example upon the manner of passing reactants or other fluids from a fluid manifold or reservoir through catalyst or contact mass within the reaction chamber. 10

Fig. 6 discloses baiiles adapted to permit free passage of fluids therethrough and accommodating fluid conduits I5. Baflie plates I3, interposed between fluid manifold l5 and flue sheet 1 accommodate manifold branch conduits Ii by 15 means of aligned and alternately disposed larger and smaller perforations Ila. Free passage of fluids, through flue sheet I is, in this instance, v provided by perforations 20 between conduits It. The baflle plate or plates providing smaller per- 20 forations 2| also provide additional perforations 22 in alignment with perforations 20 in flue sheet I to complete a system of fluid ports in staggered relationship. 7

From the above it is apparent that the baflle 25 plates, in many instances, function eiflciently in the place of heat insulating material in restricting heat exchange between localized portions of a chemical converter, particularly when they are disposed in a stream of reaction products leav- 30 ing. the contact mass in the reaction chamber or in a stream of reactants about to enter the reaction chamber and which-are at a temperature not widely variant from the temperature of the mass; that thebailles present advantages over the insulating material in avoiding the impairment of efllciency of the latter caused by absorbed fluids; that the baiiles are easily adapted to prevent formation of pockets which hold sta nating fluids, and to avoid the flre and explosion 4o hazards of stagnating inflammable fluids.

Although the heat ballles are capable of general application to restrict radiant heat exchange between the contact mass and localized portions of the converters, a particularly useful and valuable utilization of one or more bailles is between the contact mass and elements of a system for handling heat exchange fluid disposed outside the reaction zone, which elements are normally in radiant heat exchange relation with the zone and its contents. When it is desirable to control the-temperature of a wall of the reaction chamber as well as the temperature of the contents of the chamber, all or a portion of the heat baming means are interposed between the wall and the portions of the converter which tend to exert the undesirable temperature influence.

action zone and other portions of, the converter is eliminated when the baille or baiiles interposed therebetween are contacted by fluids which are at the same or approximately the same temperature as that obtaining in the interior of the reaction zone as when .the baflling means are disposed in the stream of reaction products leaving 65 the reaction zone or in the path of reactants for endothermic reactions entering that zone. The

temperature influence of portions of the converter outside the reaction zone on reactants entering or reaction products leaving the latter is reduced to substantial extent or even practically eliminated when the heat baiiles are arranged to prevent contact of the fluid and such portions of the converter.

I claim as my invention:

' between said manifold tion with said partition and interposed between the latter and said'mass, and heat bailiing means in said reservoir in spaced relation with said partition.

2. In a converter for effecting chemical reactions providing a reaction chamber containing a contact mass and a reservoir in contiguity with said reaction chamber for reactants or for reaction products, a manifold for a heating or cooling fluid located in said reservoir, said manifold having branches extending into said mass for conducting said heating or cooling fluid in heat exchange relation but out of direct contact with said mass, and a plurality of heat baiiling means in spaced intervening free space between adjacent baiiles which is in fluid communication with the aforesaid reservoir, said bailiing means being disposed and said mass, thereby to minimize the temperature influence of said manifold on the boundary portions of said mass.

3. In a converter for effecting chemical reac- I tions providing a reaction chamber, a perforated relation with said partition deflning the extent of said chamber and the extent of a fluid reservoir contiguous thereto, a contact mass in said chamber, a series of fluid conduits extending through the perforations in said partition and into said chameber to be surrounded by said mass, and a heat baiiiing plate disposed in said chamber in' spaced partition and between the latter and said mass to divide said chamber into intercommunicating fluid compartments, said passage of said conduits.

4. In apparatus for eifecting chemical reactions, a partition deflning one end of a reaction chamber and one end of a fluid reservoir, a con-.

tact mass in said chamber. a series of fluid conduits mounted in said partition. and extending intosaidchambertobeembeddedinsaidmass, a fluid manifold in said reservoir, 9. series of fluid conduits extending from said manifold into said chamber, and heat battling means interposed be-,

tween said partition and said manifold.

5. In a converter for eflecting chemical reactions, a partition in said converter defining one end of a reaction chamber and one end of a contiguous fluid reservoir, a fluid manifold in said reservoir having branches extending through said partition and into said chamber, means for venting fluid reactionvproducts from said chamber into said reservoir. and means interposed between said partition and said manifold for directing said reaction products'toward the periphery of said reservoir and restricting heat exchange between said partition and said manifold.

6. In a converter for effecting chemical reactions, a partition dividing the space within said converter into a reaction chamber. and a:fluid reservoir, a fluid manifold in said reservoir, a plurality of fluid conduits communicating with said manifold and projecting through said partition and into said reaction chamber. abaflle plate in said reservoir in spaced relation with said partition and interposed between the latter and said manifold, and a series of fluid conduits mounted in said partition to extend into said reaction chamber and providing fluid communication be! tween-said chamber and the space between sai bailie and said partition.

relation with each other to provide an .tion chamber providin across said shell defining one end of a chamber and one end through the perforations in said baflie and said and intosaid reaction chamber. for fluid communication between said reservoir and said chamber, said conduits providing ports in the'walls thereof between said baflle plate and said partition for establishing direct fluid communication between said chamber and the compartment adjacent said partition.

8. In a converter for efiectin'g chemical reactions, a perforated partition defining one end of a reaction chamber and one end of a fluid reservoir, a baiiie plate in said reservoir in spaced relation with said partition, said haflle plate having perforations therein in alignment with the perforations in said partition, 9. series of fluid conduits extending from said reservoir through the perforations in said baflie and said partition and into said reaction chambe said conduits having means to discharge fluids from said reacinto the space between said baiiie plate and said partition and also into said reservoir beyond said plate.

partition 9. In a converter for effecting chemical reac-- tions providing'a reaction chamber and a fluid reservoir adiac'ent said chamber, a contact mass in said chamber, manifolding means in said reservoir provided with branches extending into said mass to conduct a-heating or cooling medium through said chamber, means providing fluid communication between said-chamber and ,said reservoinand means to conduct fluids about to enter or fluids leaving said chamber through said reservoir out of direct. heat exchange relation with said manifolding means.

10. In a converter for tions providing a reaction chamber and a fluid reservoir adJacent said chamber, means for conducting heating or cooling fluid through said chamber including a fluid manifold in said reservoir,-means providing fluid communication between said chamber and said reservoir, and means to conduct fluids about to enter or fluids leaving said chamber around the periphery of said reservoir and out of direct heat, exchange relation with said manifolding means.

11. In'a chemical converter, a shell, a partition reaction of a fluid reservoir, 9. plurality of baflie plates in saidlreservolr in spaced relation with'said partition to divide said reservoir into a plurality of intercommunicating compartments, said partition and said baflies providing perforations .in alignment, a plurality of fluid conduits extending throughsaid perforations into said chamber, said conduits having- 'ports between said baiiles and between said partition and the baiiie adjacent thereto for providing direct fluid communication between said chamber and said compartment;

12. In a converter for effecting chemical reactions, a shell, a partitionacross said shell dividing the interior thereof into a reaction chamber ands. fluid reservoir, voir in spaced relation rality' of fluid conduits mounted in said partition andextendinsintosaid chamberandthroush a battle plate in said reserefiecting chemical reacwith said partition, a phi- Patent No. 2,102,6L h.

of the above numb ered patent re quiring correction as follows column, line 68,

said chamber and the space between said baiile and said partition, a fluid manifold in said reservoir beyond said baiiie plate and having branches extending into said conduits to be in nested relation with the latter.

13. In apparatus for effecting chemical reactions, a converter shell, a partition across said shell dividing the interior thereof into a reaction chamber and a fluid reservoir, an inner shell within said reservoir dividing the latter into an inner chamber and an outer chamber, a fluid manifold within said inner chamber, conduit -branches extending from said manifold through said outer chamber and into said reaction chamber, and means providing fluid communication CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

THOMAS B. PRICKETT.

between said reaction chamber and said outer chamber. 4

14. A converter for effecting chemical reactions comprising a casing providing a fluid-reservoir and a reaction chamberior containing a contact mass, a partition between said reservoir and said chamber, means for. venting reaction products i'rom said reaction chamber through said partition into said reservoir, means for conducting a heating or cooling mediumthrough said chamber including a manifold in said res; ervoir, and heat baiiiing means in said reservoir interposed between said manifold and said partition.

THOMAS E. PRICKE'II.

December 21, 1957.

It is hereby certified that error appears in -the 'printed specification;

(Seal) .iienry Van Arsdale Page 3, secondg Q- 4 cIaim 11, for the word "compart ment",read. compartmentsgi? Q and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thi I in that the same may conform t'o'fthe record of. the case Signed and sealed this 15th day of February, 'A. D

a correction there-f? tithe Patent of'ri'ce.

Acting comnissiener .of Patentsi Patent No. 2,102,6L h.

of the above numb ered patent re quiring correction as follows column, line 68,

said chamber and the space between said baiile and said partition, a fluid manifold in said reservoir beyond said baiiie plate and having branches extending into said conduits to be in nested relation with the latter.

13. In apparatus for effecting chemical reactions, a converter shell, a partition across said shell dividing the interior thereof into a reaction chamber and a fluid reservoir, an inner shell within said reservoir dividing the latter into an inner chamber and an outer chamber, a fluid manifold within said inner chamber, conduit -branches extending from said manifold through said outer chamber and into said reaction chamber, and means providing fluid communication CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

THOMAS B. PRICKETT.

between said reaction chamber and said outer chamber. 4

14. A converter for effecting chemical reactions comprising a casing providing a fluid-reservoir and a reaction chamberior containing a contact mass, a partition between said reservoir and said chamber, means for. venting reaction products i'rom said reaction chamber through said partition into said reservoir, means for conducting a heating or cooling mediumthrough said chamber including a manifold in said res; ervoir, and heat baiiiing means in said reservoir interposed between said manifold and said partition.

THOMAS E. PRICKE'II.

December 21, 1957.

It is hereby certified that error appears in -the 'printed specification;

(Seal) .iienry Van Arsdale Page 3, secondg Q- 4 cIaim 11, for the word "compart ment",read. compartmentsgi? Q and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thi I in that the same may conform t'o'fthe record of. the case Signed and sealed this 15th day of February, 'A. D

a correction there-f? tithe Patent of'ri'ce.

Acting comnissiener .of Patentsi 

